Family Found: A Queer Friendsgiving Celebration by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Keisha Morris (Candlewick, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator asks different people at their annual Friendsgiving celebration how the tradition of having dinner together every year got started. No one can quite remember, but each person shares a little bit of LGBTQ+ history. After the feast has been prepared, one of the older participants stands up and recites a short poem offering gratitude for this found family that offers each member love and acceptance. Includes additional information about some of the history mentioned in the text.

A lovely celebration of found family and the LGBTQ+ community whose members may not always be welcome to join their families of origin at the holiday. I wish there had been a little more to the story which felt like a vehicle for sharing history, but it’s a welcome addition to the Thansgiving bookshelf.

The Thing About Pie by Amy Hest, illustrated by Christopher Thornock (Neal Porter Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). “The thing about pie is waking up early to make it.” The boy in the story, which is told in the second person, has gotten up early to roll out pie crust, mix up blueberries, and top it all with a latticework crust while his dog looks on. He wraps the pie in towels, puts it in his bike basket, and heads off. There’s a tense moment when the pie bounces out of the basket, but happily, it lands right back in the basket again. And finally, boy, dog, and pie arrive at their destination; Grampa’s house, and the boy and his grampa share a piece of pie together. Glorious.

Okay, I’ll admit there’s no mention of a November holiday, but any story about pie, kind actions, and time spent with family is a Thanksgiving book in my opinion. The text and illustrations work together perfectly to tell a simple story that is also extremely satisfying, showing a selfless deed and concluding with a happy shared memory.